The Last Bolshevik (1992)
This 1993 documentary explores the life and work of the Russian director Alexander Medvedkin (1900-1989). (First Run Icarus Films)
Cast and Information
Directed By: Chris Marker
Written By: Chris Marker
Starring: Aleksandr Medvedkin
Genre: Documentary
AKA: Le tombeau d'Alexandre
Country: France
Where to Stream
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The Last Bolshevik belongs to 16 collections
1. Jonathan Rosenbaum's Top 1000 Movies (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 38 stars)
2. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2014 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Jehan - 27 stars)
3. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2017 revision) (collaborative: moderated by iconogassed - 22 stars)
4. Best of criticker: Documentary (collaborative: moderated by avgcrtckr - 20 stars)
5. Documentaries about movies (collaborative: moderated by djross - 19 stars)
6. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2013 revision) (collaborative: moderated by rant1229 - 16 stars)
7. FIPRESCI Prize (collaborative: moderated by paulofilmo - 14 stars)
8. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2020 revision) (public: djross - 14 stars)
9. Films referenced in Histoire(s) du cinéma (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 5 stars)
10. Old directors (70+) (collaborative: moderated by von krogh - 3 stars)
11. Slant Magazine's 100 Best Movies of the 1990s (collaborative: moderated by edsu - 3 stars)
12. They Shoot Pics (TSPDT) 2013 new additions (collaborative: moderated by avgcrtckr - 1 star)
13. Cinematheque Ontario - Best 40 Of The Nineties (public: Thegoodboy - 1 star)
14. Next Up (collaborative: moderated by davidysteph)
15. TSPDT Films I Couldn't Finish (collaborative: moderated by svenerik)
16. To see (public: pcalado)
Browse the full list of collections
| Date | User | Rating | |
| May 26, 2022 |  |
Mentaculus | 77 66th |
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Marker’s personal examination of his friend and colleague Medvedkin has all the hallmarks of the best cautionary tale, political thriller, and whimsical puff piece, but it suffers from most of his prototypical Markerisms: overwrought reminisces and curious visual tampering. Its moral, the idea that an artist and political idealogue are essentially the same magnetic pole - when you try to connect them, they repulse, because they come from the same attraction - has a curious hint of truth.
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| Dec 26, 2016 |  |
PeaceAnarchy | 84 77th |
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Interesting mix of biography and political documentary. Marker takes us through Medvedkin's life and work all while deliberating on the flaws of the Soviet Union and the trials of being an film director driven by a personal vision, and does it in a way that is interesting no matter where you're coming at it from.
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| Nov 09, 2010 |  |
snallygaster | 56 57th |
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Fascinating and complex; a portrait of both the titular filmmaker and the system under which he lived. Although I found the film engrossing despite having little knowledge of Soviet film, I think it definitely would have helped to have some basic familiarity with more of the figures mentioned. Hopefully some time in the future I'll be able to revisit this from a more informed position.
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| Oct 17, 2010 |  |
SlantMag | 40 97th |
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"The catch is that the letters are addressing a dead man." - Eric Henderson
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| Oct 14, 2010 |  |
Valenzetti | 92 92nd |
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A deep, flowing meditation on an artist's existence over the course of the Soviet Union's, and art's existence within societal courses of power, ideology, and (inevitable) change. Powerful stuff collaged by Marker with energy and sincerity.
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| Aug 20, 2010 |  |
Actionberg | 90 92nd |
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What appears to be an expose on Medvedkin is really a fascinating analysis of the Soviet Union through its cinema. Chris Marker lends his trademark eclectic narration to a compelling subject and makes gold.
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| Mar 07, 2009 |  |
JakeAesthete | 26 23rd |
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Sadly, i think there's a reason Sans Soleil and La Jetee remain Marker's most well known films. As beautiful as those films are, his other stuff is... kind of boring.
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| Average Percentile 67.62% from 80 Ratings |  |